SDI Force fights Covid-19 on health and economic fronts
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. When it became evident that Covid-19 would usher in a harsh reality for South Africans, Brad Fisher and Andile Ramaphosa, co-founders of Supplier Development Initiatives (SDI), moved quickly to repurpose this platform-based organisation. Prior to the pandemic SDI had, with FNB’s backing, secured a large deal known as Alex 1000. This project saw big corporates in Sandton both contracting micro service providers in Alex through enabling platforms like Bolt, Loadit, Uber, SweepSouth, Aweh Africa, Fixit, WastePreneurs and PromoForce, and ultimately investing in thousands of these businesses.
“Of the 50,000 micro traders associated with SDI, there was huge concern about the wellbeing of the lowest 10,000 income earners”, says Fisher. “These are mainly informal traders like waste pickers, car guards and traffic traders who live hand-to-mouth.” These individuals needed immediate assistance, but SDI was also in a position to play a larger role in the fight against the pandemic. “The big idea was to take SDI’s existing model – effectively aggregating micro enterprises that operate through the likes of Uber – and adapt this into a coordinated effort to combat the negative effects of the nationwide lockdown,” explains Ramaphosa. To achieve this, SDI Force was immediately setup as a non-profit initiative with a three-phase approach.
The first has been the emergency food pack relief for the most vulnerable traders, the ‘invisible economic sector’ that had unfortunately fallen between the cracks. SDI Force developed an effective PPP with the City of Johannesburg, Unity Values and Momba Foundation to safely distribute close to 9,000 food packs (450,000 individual meals) at sites like Innesfree Park, Sandton Field and Study Centre, Power Park Dam, Orlando East, Motsoaledi informal settlement, Orange Farm, Kwa Mai Mai, Maboneng and Turffontein.
This effort proved critical in sustaining these people through the most trying of times.Secondly, SDI Force has worked hard to ensure that these traders are Covid-compliant, equipping them with Personal Protective Equipment PPE, additional equipment and training that has enabled them to work safely and in line with the restrictions currently in place.
The third phase involves getting these micro traders back to work, fighting the good fight against the spread of the virus. “As the pandemic progresses, it has become evident that frontline workers need bolstering,” says Fisher.
“SDI Force has collaborated with best-practice stakeholders to develop uniquely South African solutions to address the challenges this lockdown poses to SMMEs and the economy. As such, SDI Force has shifted to focus on getting our micro suppliers back to work.” This involves specialised training that, for example, helps turn waste pickers into frontline Covid-busters, fitted with industrial sanitizer spray-packs and hazmat suits, and are taught how to disinfect public spaces like taxi ranks.
A top training company has been commissioned to purpose-build a Covid-compliant training course, currently being approved by the Covid authority. Through this, these ‘micro warriors’ will be enabled to safely distribute product and services such as:
- Transporting medical staff to work (Bolt / Uber)
- Delivering food (Bolt Food)
- Delivering heavy equipment such as medical tents and hospital beds (Loadit)
- Dispensing medical tests and hospital beds (Tradeway Promotions)
- Spraying both industrial and commercial spaces (SweepSouth)
- Developing surveys and data capture for information dissemination (Aweh Africa)
Heather Louw, Head of SME Development at FNB Business and an inspirational champion of SDI, has immediately bought into the repurposing of the organisation and the utilisation of inherent skills and experience to assist frontline relief efforts. But there’s still a huge need for businesses to support these micro-suppliers, and large companies are being encouraged to use SDI Force services wherever possible. The small guys are being hit the hardest, and the sooner SMMEs can get back to business, the better.
“We know that, together, we can win this war in a uniquely South African way,” concludes Ramaphosa. “We’re fighting it on two fronts to protect both our nation’s health and its economy, and we’re confident that, along with our valued collaborators and micro warriors on the ground, we can provide world-class solutions to aid our country in this hour of need.”
Watch how SDI Force is getting our invisible economy back to work with 100,000 micro traders fighting the good fight:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C09ZyWjtZ1M&feature=youtu.be
PROMOTION…
For more information on SDI and contacting SDI micro suppliers go to: www.sdiforce.co.za
Go to the donations page on www.sdiforce.co.za to help purchase the personal protective equipment needed for these professionals to operate in a Covid-19 compliant manner.
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